KMFDM
Biography
Such industrial alt-metal outfits as Nine Inch Nails and Ministry received the lion's share of press and commercial success during the '90s, but there were a handful of other bands that were slugging it out for just as long (if not longer), including KMFDM. The band's name has been the subject of countless debates among fans over the years as to what it stands for (their record company even went as far as holding a contest in 1994 for fans to submit possible meanings, resulting in more than a thousand entries), but the confirmed meaning is "Kein Mitleid Für Die Mehrheit" which, when translated into English, means "No Pity for the Majority". The German band has included countless members over the years, but through it all, their leader has remained Sascha Konietzko, whose multiple roles have included that of songwriter, producer, mixer, programmer, sampler, vocalist, percussionist, bassist, and electronic gadgeteer.
Originally formed in Paris, France, KMFDM was founded by Konietzko and German painter/multimedia performer Udo Sturm. The duo made their in-concert debut on February 29, 1984, when they performed at an opening for an exhibition of European artists at the Grand Palais in Paris (with the show consisting of Sturm playing a synthesizer that would play feedback, and Konietzko playing a five-string bass). The same year, KMFDM issued its debut release, Opium, but Sturm exited the group shortly thereafter (around the same time, Konietzko was joined by drummer En Esch, who would remain with the group from then on out). With Sturm out of the picture, Konietzko and Esch put KMFDM on hold at first and joined up with New York industrialist Peter Missing to form the outfit Missing Foundations. But before the new outfit could issue any recordings, both Konietzko and Esch had dropped out and returned back to KMFDM (Missing Foundations would carry on with replacement members and go on to issue albums on their own from the late '80s through the early '90s).
KMFDM's sophomore effort, What Do You Know Deutschland?, came in 1986 and was the group's first of many for Chicago's famed industrial label Wax Trax! But instead of if being an album of all new tracks, it was comprised of selections spanning from 1983 through 1986 (in fact, several were from prior to Esch's joining). Around this time, KMFDM struck up a relationship with artist Aidan Hughues (aka Brute!), who would steadily supply cover artwork for the group the images would become synonymous with KMFDM's hard-hitting music. Konietzko and company pushed forward with such further '80s releases as 1988's Don't Blow Your Top and 1989's UAIOE, during which KMFDM found themselves in the middle of an underground industrial movement (it didn't hurt matters that Wax Trax! quickly became one of the leading industrial labels in the world, as they were the home to such other similarly styled acts as Ministry, Revco, Front 242, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, etc.).
But KMFDM had yet to tour America by 1989 (having heavily toured Europe with the likes of Einstrüzende Neubauten, the Young Gods, and Borghesia, among others), something they sought to correct when they were offered a slot opening a U.S. tour for labelmates Ministry, who at the time were readying their classic The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste release. With the tour lined up for a summer launch, it was pushed back several times (due to Ministry leader Al Jourgensen falling ill) and the tour finally got underway in December 1989. The tour successfully established KMFDM as a band to watch in the industrial underground, as they returned back to Europe after the tour's completion to work on their fifth full-length release overall, 1990's Naïve. Realizing that industrial's future lay in the U.S., Konietzko relocated KMFDM's home base from Hamburg to Chicago during 1991. The same year, KMFDM's side-project Excessive Force was formed, issuing a debut release, Conquer Your World, in 1992, the same year that KMFDM issued a new release as well, Money.
But just as it appeared as though KMFDM was about to break through to a wider audience, Wax Trax! suddenly found itself on hard times, resulting in the label being bought out by TVT Records. What followed for KMFDM were some of its best-known and strongest releases: 1993's Angst (which earned the group their first real exposure on MTV via the video clip for the track "Drug Against War"), 1995's Nihil, and 1996's XTORT. During the same time, Excessive Force issued a second release, 1994's Gentle Death, while Konietzko relocated once more, this time to Seattle. Further releases followed in the late '90s (1997's Symbols, 1998's Agogo, and 1999's Adios), before KMFDM disbanded on January 22, 1999. In the wake of the group's split, Konietzko assembled a new outfit, MDFMK (yep, KMFDM spelled backward) and issued a lone self-titled release in 2000 before KMFDM reunited in 2002 for an all-new album, Attak, and the live album Sturm & Drang Tour 2002. 2003 saw the release of WWIII followed by WWIII Live 2003 a year later. Released on KMFDM Records, 2005's Hau Ruck was classic KMFDM with its aggressive industrial power. The Ruck Zuck EP followed in 2006 with the full-length Tohuvabohu landing in 2007. Remix album Brimborium and rarities collection Extra, Vol. 1 were both released in 2008. In addition to leading KMFDM, Konietzko has also worked with other artists either playing, producing, or remixing tracks/albums by Die Krupps, Front 242, kidneythieves, M People, Peter Murphy, Pig, Schwein, Sister Machine Gun, and Swamp Terrorists, among others. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
laughingnaqh a - I feel ya. If they were ever to replace Lucia, I'd lobby HARD to bring Nicole Blackman back. She destroyed on Xtort!
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Good stuff. I prefer Ministry, since this is my space...
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I was lucky enough to see them in September in Philly. Awesome live but would have been better if the sound guy hadn't f**ked up the mics (you could barely hear the vocals over the drums).
Also I'm not a big fan of Lucia's singing. It works on some songs but I get the nagging feeling that a lot of the earlier stuff was not performed because she does not have the range to manage the female vocals on them. |
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Saw em live on Friday in NYC..one of the best shows ive ever been to..fuc*ing awesum!!!
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latem EURT ot netsiL
slateM ekaf rof elttes ton oD .hguone doog ton era (s)dnab ruoY dna latem eurT tuoba eno emos llet dluohs uoY !KCAMSDOG tuoba |
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GGGGGGGGGGGG G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S M M M M M M M M M A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K ! ! ! ! ! ! TRUE METAL!!!!!!! ! !
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These guys are on tour right now! Angelspit is the opening act! Will see here in Mpls. in 12 days! Woo-hoo!! This'll be my 25th time seeing them and I'm still just as excited as the first time :)
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No, no, no... Start with Nihil or Angst and collect the rest in release date order from there. Then collect in reverse order from Angst. Their early stuff are gems and are to be savored as such. Can't wait to see them in less than a month! October 5th! :)
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Xtort is a good album to start with.
it is very excitable and more like their current sound. |
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I got into them via their WWIII album. Started listening to more and more of their music and more bands like them. Haven't looked back, ever.
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What are the best albums to start with from KMFDM? I've known about them since the early 90's and just never gave them a chance. By the way, I'd always heard their name stood for "Kill Mother F*cking Depeche Mode", LOL!
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buy the cds instead of downloading half the value is in the artwork for each album
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ive lost count the number of cds tapes and lps I have. buy the extras cds they have content not avail on the original cd singles as they are no longer printed and cost a bundle online as used cds. All that is out right now can be bought through their website but i dont have to tell you what that is Im sure you can figure out the address. Been listening since 1989 never too old for good music
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'Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid'
I posted this before pandora's info is wrong |
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I have just gotten into this music (a few decades too late, I know). Started my collection off with the CDs I could find easily (Hau Ruck and Tohuvabohu) and I want to get them all now. Seeing them in concert this October!
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I'm confused... HOW is the name supposed to be said (not the acronym of course)?
anyway, they are awesome. |
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Old Man Winter- Actually, you are incorrect. Proper German would say that you are correct, but this is about KMFDM, and that's how they've ALWAYS stated the acronym. Check out their website and the quote directly from Cap'n K himself. But let's celebrate the awesomeness that is KMFDM instead of pulling hairs and one-upping each other, eh? ;)
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@wenig drache: First, Pandora did not write the bio. To submit a correction, you would need to visit www.allmusic . c o m as they are the writers. Second, you are mistaken. "Merheit" means majority, and "Mitleid" means compassion (pity). The way you have it written it would read "No majority for the compassion (pity)".
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johnny appleseed- you and me both, bro! Sascha is GOD reincarnated ! Blitz is even further proof that these guys (and Lucia) can rock the hell outta music in their mid forties. May they keep gonig for another 30 years! Hail, hail!!
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THIS BAND HAS BEEN my .NO.1.. DEUTSCHER SINCE 86' AHH HIGH SCHOOL.. MOHAWKS AND DOC MARTINS ...good times good times..
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well, andyczech, at least you tried! that's a good thing. :)
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'Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid' If anyone is paying attention plz inform pandora that their info is wrong
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I don't know what to think about this kind of music - it misses something and that actually drives me away - maybe the reason is the simple time signatures and German style of harmonies? I don't know...Keybo a r d i s t myself, I envision use of keyboards in the different way. Heavy riffs are ok but if they start form too mauch of the base of the song, it gets me into uncomfortabl e zone. Sorry, not big fan. But I tried,...Or maybe I am just too old for this.
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I liked this band's music BEFORE you got me into Rammstein!
KMFDM popped up on my Birthday Massacre radio a few times and that's how I've heard of them! |
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(Deist) god, I seem to have gotten you hooked on German metal, Bozu...
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KMFDM has wicked awesome stuff, but... so much music... no clue where to start! @.@
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the first industrial track i ever heard was God Like. still my favorite track to this day.
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KMFDM - Better than the best. My band Nevers Blessing has had the privilege of performing with KMFDM on 2 different tours and got to hang out and party with them as well. So, besides being incredible performers and song writers, they are also some of the coolest people we ever met.
////////Warr i o r |
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one of the best industrial music bands of all time i will never get tired of listening to KMFDM.
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Probably the first band I've ever loved. 25 years later I can still listen to any album start to finish. I never get tired of KMFDM.
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God damn this is the band that started my fanatic obsession into industrial music. And I started listening to them after the "Disbanding" it proves that they can still get a new fans no matter what time it is.
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